Recent Bylines
“Intelligent luxury,” Philip Blackwell said, is a properly curated hotel library. Blackwell has been in the business of installing thoughtful and stylish collections in commercial and residential spaces under the auspices of the Ultimate Library since 2008. “If a hotel should be a home away from home, but better, then it follows that the book collection needs to be intelligently selected,” Blackwell told Hospitality Design.
What’s an intelligent selection? One that not only anticipates its readership but aligns with the design and geographic situation of the space in which it’s found. But, you might be thinking, a lot of hotels have libraries that are by no means carelessly compiled, right? Here’s the distinction: Some hotels put books on shelves, others want what’s inside the books to broaden guests’ experience. For the latter, careful curation is key. Because unlike other objects in a room, books talk back. Published by ELLE Decor in April 2025. Published by ELLE Decor in April, 2025. Read the piece here.
